Gun Shop Math

[labgrade]

rock jock (sigh),

Anything marked is (by most to be known to be already marked up at least 4-5% for use by a credit card purchase - where've you been?)

If one can't dicker with cash for that 4% given excize (let alone being able for the vendor not to have to declare it on taxes) we're already way beyond what some would consider "utopia."

Alas.

& anybody who thinks that an honest attempt at dickering - to get the price down over an already inflated level (to assume just that), is unaware of the where-ins & outs of what retail really is.

Besides, dickering isn't "hassling," it's dickering. Sorry that I previously used the word "argue." Wasn't meant to replace my intended meaning of dickering.

 

[larry_minn]

If you pay with credit cards for everything you spend more money then others do. Extra fees and late fees or finance charges if you are ONE day late. I get bit for $30 at least once a year. Of course if I always had to make payments every mounth prob would do better. Being gone for 2 weeks at a shot does not help.

 

[BamBam-31]

Don't know why, but I never noticed services being hit with sales tax before. When I pay my lawyer his fees, there's no sales tax on the bill. Same with my plumber. Same with my gunsmith. The fee is the fee, no sales tax on the receipt at all. Maybe it's already added in. Dunno.

As for credit cards vs. cash, I don't like carrying around that much cash. I'm talking maybe several hundred for the shows. I'd rather pay the questionable $3.00 fee, since I'm saving huge bucks with their prices already. Actually, it's a debit card, but that probably carries just as much electro-info as credit cards (in case you're paranoid ).

It's just this feeling that dealers, both from shops and show, are using creative accounting to squeeze out an extra dime or two from each customer in the name of taxes, but I doubt those taxes end up going to the state in the end.

That "handling fee" sure is annoying.

 

[Minute_Of_Torso]

Forgive my ignorance but what's a DROS fee?

 

[BamBam-31]

Here in California, we pay a Dealer Record of Sale fee of $20.00 per transaction. It's a form of registration disguised as a background check. We also have to wait 10 days from the time the gun is DROS-ed to pick it up. Great, eh?

 

[rock jock]

labgrade,

Whatever. Its an exercise in futility IMO. Its analogous to buying a dinner at a restaurant and when the bill comes telling the waiter that because you didn't eat your salad you want $2 knocked off your bill.

 

[OF]

The merchant gets charged by the credit card company something in the neighborhood of 3% on every transaction, AMEX is even higher. That may seem like small potatoes, but on larger purchases in industries with small profit margins it's a major consideration.

Someone has to pay for that 3%, and it ain't gonna be the merchant. Just like anything in business, it's the customer who pays. That's why they call it 'business'.

The only question is: do just the people who use credit cards pay for it (through a POS surcharge, which the credit card companies - for obvious reasons - don't want charged or even mentioned at the POS; or through making everything else 'discounted for cash' to get around that), or is the charge evenly distributed across all customers by raising the price of everything.

Isn't it only fair to make the credit card users pay the credit card use fees as opposed to everyone?

- Gabe

 

[Topgun]

Ever hear the voice of a dead president?

Well, they speak loudly when you have CASH. Without going into details, merchants can be much more....uh....flexible....on pricing for CASH.

If you are worried about losing or dropping your cash, tape it to your butt.



Seriously, unless you simply do not have the self control to not spend every dime in your pocket, CASH can be some wonderful stuff.

 

[labgrade]

rock,

"labgrade,

Whatever. Its an exercise in futility IMO. Its analogous to buying a dinner at a restaurant and when the bill comes telling the waiter that because you didn't eat your salad you want $2 knocked off your bill."

You've missed the point entirely.

& really, if you never wanted "the salad," why should you pay for it? & wouldn't it be in your interest to tell 'em up-front "that since I don't want the salad, I ain't paying for it?

That's not "argueing," that's being up-front & starting the dickering option right up front. There is no reason I should have to pay for something I'll never use, or avail myself of.

From all I know (which isn't the end-alls, BTW) a surcharge of 3-4% is tacked onto everything we do - to cover the "expense" of (everybody else) using a credit card. Whether or not you do - you still get to pay this excize fee.

If you aren't using a credit card, why should you pay for the "excize?"

Take a look at some gas stations who have a sign posted that says "-$.04 per gallon for cash." Why do you think they'd have that?

That's all I'm saying.

By paying with cash, any business-person already knows that you're "fluent enough" in the world & can accommodate you.

Case in point.

I dealt with a local custom jewelry-guy - he made a coupla personally-spec'd rings for (me) The Wife.

$2,000 for A (custom opal/gold) Ring when bought with a check or credit card. Worked out to $800 if paid by cash.

Transcripts lead to "accountability." He had some "excess" material & could accomodate me.

Your choice. You wanna pay "retail," go ahead.

Personally, I'd just as soon dicker some & give the merchant a better deal & save myself some money.

If I pay cash for a transaction that can be easily enough dealt through means that "every body else" doesn't have their hands on it, it'll allow the merchant a surplus, while allowing me a discount.

I'm not screwing anybody out of their livelyhood in either event. To be redundant, the merchant makes more money & I save some.

You, on the other hand are paying too much for everything you buy.

& I'm in "futility?"

You wanna continue to fund the "tax as you go" mind-set, please do.

On the other hand, I'd just as soon buy goods at the stated price & cut out the middle-man - while making a better profit for the seller while saving a few scoots.